Cost of damage in Fort Bonifacio fire reaches P19-M

MANILA -- The damage from the fire and blast that hit an Army building at Fort Bonifacio last week has been assessed to run into millions of pesos. The explosion at the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion of the Army Support Command last May 7 was so strong that damage has reached an estimated P19 million. Four bomb suits worth over P7 million were destroyed. The cost of damage to the building, meanwhile, was estimated at P3.65 million. The supply room where the blast occurred contained six M14 and M16 rifles, pistols, 14 blocks of C-4 bombs, and two blocks of TNT. It also had bullets and other ammunition. Authorities are still investigating if there had been any activity at the reloading area prior to the fire. From the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center, two soldiers who had been injured during the incident have been moved to the burn unit of the East Avenue Medical Center. The fire also claimed the life of Corporal Bernabe Mota, who succumbed to his wounds at the V. Luna General Hospital at 10:01 a.m. last May 9. Detoyato said 65% of Mota's body sustained burn injuries. – with ANC